Suzy Davies in running for Welsh Tory leadership
SHADOW Social Services Secretary Suzy Davies has secured enough nominations for her to trigger a Welsh Conservative leadership contest.
Ms Davies, a regional AM for South Wales West who is a qualified solicitor, will now go up against acting leader Paul Davies, who took charge of the group at the National Assembly following last week’s resignation of Andrew RT Davies.
The former leader, a strong supporter of Brexit, quit after coming to the conclusion that he no longer had the wholehearted support of his fellow AMs. He has since alleged there was a conspiracy to get him out of the leadership, engineered by senior Welsh party figures in London.
A statement from Ms Davies’ office said: “Suzy Davies has today submitted her nomination paper to stand in the upcoming Welsh Conservative leadership contest. Suzy is pleased that there will be a contest in which members will have their say.” To get on the ballot paper she needed the support of three AMs.
In the aftermath of Mr Davies’ resignation, one of his supporters said: “What Andrew had going for him was the fact that he was elected by party members as a whole, not simply by the AMs. It gave him a democratic mandate. The party would be happy with someone like Suzy Davies as leader, who although she was a Remainer, is in tune with the UK government’s position on Brexit.”
Paul Davies is perceived by Andrew RT Davies’ supporters as an “arch-Remainer”.
Swansea-born Suzy Davies was first elected to the Assembly in 2011.